Memory Blooms

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You lingered outside the tree.

You could see them inside, sitting in their chair, waiting for you.

You were no more eager to have this conversation than he was, you still felt guilty. Would he forgive you? Should you forgive him? Did he feel just as guilty as you? So many possibilities and ways it could go wrong.

But you knew it would just eat away at you unless you did something about it.

You took a deep breath, and walked up the vines, trying to focus on keeping your balance rather than the pit in your stomach. Whatever the outcome of this came to be, you had to accept it.

He didn't look up right away as you approached, apparently engrossed in a new book. It was only once you were directly next to him did he glance at you, before going back to his story.

...Maybe this was a bad idea, maybe you shouldn't—

He snapped the book shut after a moment, sliding it onto the side table and leaning back in his chair.

You stared, fidgeting with your hands as silent second after second passed by. Apparently neither of you were able to do anything besides look at each other.

"Well?"

"Uhm—" You stuttered, you hadn't thought at all about what you'd actually say. You had hoped it would just come naturally like it did in tv shows and books.

He sighed, shaking his head with a chuckle. Embarrassment found its way to your cheeks as he gestured to the ottoman.

"Sit."

You glanced at the ottoman, then back at him. There was a genuine smile on his face that made the heat in your cheeks worsen, you only hoped it wasn't as visible as it felt. You sat down and watched him like a child about to get lectured.

He leaned back, staring wistfully at the ceiling as he began.

"So..."

"Yeah..." Seems like he was struggling for words just as much as you were.

"Look, we...probably both said some things we didn't mean..." He winced at his words, either recalling them or from realizing that was a horrible thing to lead with.

"Yeah..."

"Yeah..."

"..."

"Alright, that's it." He said, leaning forward to and raise a clawed finger. Your heart shot into your throat as the ottoman you sat on slowly moved forward in his direction. You weren't so close that it made you uncomfortable, but the intensity of his stare did that well enough.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" He started, talking fast so you wouldn't have a chance to interject. "I crossed a line and pried on a sensitive subject."
You met his gaze unblinking, taking in his words while something unknown stirred in your chest. He seemed to get lost in his own words, as he began waving his hands about exasperated as he spoke. "Not to mention I... purposely used it against you. I don't know why it's a sensitive subject, and I won't lie; I am a bit curious! But I—I'm—"

The force of your weight against them cut off whatever point they were trying to make. As you held him in a tight hug, burying your face in his hair and trying to subdue the shake in your voice

"No...I'm—I'm sorry too, I said—did some things I'm really not proud of." You held tighter, the cool texture of his floof oddly comforting. "I... it's wrong of me to force you to change for any reason. Not when I only know you on a surface level, not when I have issues myself." Snatcher hadn't moved an inch since your surprise hug, as a matter of fact, he was frozen in place. Arms hovering in the air, unsure if he should push you away or return the gesture. "I... I think I can forgive you, and... I hope you can forgive me."